The family say the women have not been heard from in almost a week and it is believed that on June 9 they boarded a flight from Medina in Saudi Arabia to Istanbul in Turkey - a commonly used route into Syria.

Mr Khan said: "They are concerned that their children's lives are in danger.

"The concern is for the well-being and safety of the children. The fathers are distraught, they feel helpless and they don't now what to do. They want the children out of harm's way."

"It started with a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and they were meant to return on June 11, however they have failed to return.

PA

Sugra Dawood with her children (left to right) Junaid Ahmed, Ibrahim, Zaynab, Mariya and Ismaeel

"It has been revealed that on June 9 they have travelled from Madina to Istanbul. Since that day their family have not had any contact with them and their Facebook and WhatsApp profiles have not been updated.

"One of the possibilities is they travelled to Turkey to travel to Syria. The suspicion, and main concern, is that the women have taken their children to Syria."

West Yorkshire Police confirmed they have received a missing persons report concerning the Dawood family.

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Foster said: "We are extremely concerned for the safety of the family and would urge anyone with information to come forward and speak to us.

"Our priority is for their safe return; their families are gravely worried about them and want them home. One of our primary concerns is the safety and welfare of the young children."